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Hiring for the first time

Hello!
I have a small in home pet service company. Right now it is just me, but I
need to expand. I have to find someone that I can trust inside clients homes
when no one is home. I don't know where to start. Obviously I will do
background checks and check references, but is there anything else? Also, I
don't want smokers. Am I allowed to ask that question?
Finally, I am torn between independent contractor and employee. My business
is such that I will need people to stay over night at clients houses. Do I
really pay them per hour? Could I just pay salary and possibly bonuses if
they work a lot?

JGabriel | Community Moderator |
5/8/2013 - 8:24 pm

Hi there, this page can shed some light on the hiring as well as help you determine if you should hire a contractor or an employee:&nbsp;http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/starting-business/establishing-business/hir

Kelly Zeller | Window Shopper |
5/9/2013 - 12:46 pm

Show Replied Text…

Hi there, this page can shed some light on the hiring as well as help you determine if you should hire a contractor or an employee:&nbsp;http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/starting-business/establishing-business/hir

shuttersmart | Window Shopper |
5/8/2013 - 6:44 am

Though background checks and reference checks are some primary must do task
before hiring any employee but since your business requires night stay at
client home, you need to have all employees or contractors to be bonded.

Kelly Zeller | Window Shopper |
5/9/2013 - 12:46 pm

Show Replied Text…

Though background checks and reference checks are some primary must do task before hiring any employee but since your business requires night stay at client home, you need to have all employees or contractors to be bonded.

BizResearcher | Window Shopper |
5/7/2013 - 3:34 pm

To protect yourself when entering someone's home, you will need to require
that all employees/contractors be bonded. Being bondable should be a criteria
for employment. You obtain a bond from an insurance company. You can secure a
blanket bond that covers anyone who works for you or you can secure
individual bonds.

Kelly Zeller | Window Shopper |
5/9/2013 - 12:44 pm

Show Replied Text…

To protect yourself when entering someone's home, you will need to require that all employees/contractors be bonded. Being bondable should be a criteria for employment. You obtain a bond from an insurance company. You can secure a blanket bond that covers anyone who works for you or you can secure individual bonds.

What makes someone not bondable? I am bonded and planned on making insurance
and bonding a requirement.

HR Synergy | Window Shopper |
5/4/2013 - 1:30 pm

Hi Kelly,
As a potential new employer, you are asking some really great questions.
I would definitely recommend doing background checks and reference checks on
your potential employee. You want to be sure you do not conduct the
background check until after the offer has been accepted.
Dependent upon the state that you are in will determines what is and isn’t
a protected class and therefore what you can ask questions about.
Although because smokers are considered to be a protected class in some
states, you cannot make a hiring decision based upon whether the individual
smokes or not. You can however have a policy for your company that states
employees are not permitted to smoke while on company or customer premises.
There are specific guidelines that are required in determining whether or not
someone is an employee or independent contractor. Most often safer to higher
as an employee.

Kelly Zeller | Window Shopper |
5/5/2013 - 2:14 pm

Show Replied Text…

Hi Kelly,
As a potential new employer, you are asking some really great questions.
I would definitely recommend doing background checks and reference checks on your potential employee. You want to be sure you do not conduct the background check until after the offer has been accepted.
Dependent upon the state that you are in will determines what is and isn’t a protected class and therefore what you can ask questions about.
Although because smokers are considered to be a protected class in some states, you cannot make a hiring decision based upon whether the individual smokes or not. You can however have a policy for your company that states employees are not permitted to smoke while on company or customer premises.
There are specific guidelines that are required in determining whether or not someone is an employee or independent contractor. Most often safer to higher as an employee.

Thank you. Do you have any suggestions on the topic of pay? Specifically for
those who are working overnight. They will be sleeping, in fact they will
have a lot of freedom but still need to be doing specific tasks.
I am definitely leaning towards employee.

ldiaz117 | Window Shopper |
5/3/2013 - 12:36 pm

Kelly Zeller | Window Shopper |
5/5/2013 - 2:25 pm

Show Replied Text…

I would pay by the hour but have a flat rate for overnight work. They will be sleeping most of the night anyway.

Thank you. That is what I am leaning towards, I just didn't know if I was
allowed to do that. They will end up making under minimum wage probably.
Pretend an employee is "on the job" for 3 days and I pay that employee
$50/day. On day 1 and day 3 that employee won't be "on the job" for 24 hrs.
However, on day 2 the employee will be. That doesn't mean the employee will
be at the clients house for 24 hrs. (I imagine they will have a second job if
nothing else) and as you mentioned the employee will also be sleeping for a
portion of it (1/3 if they are sleeping for at least 8 hours).